Seacat Renews SMC Deal

Offshore energy support vessel operator Seacat Services has extended the vessel inspection agreement with Specialist Marine Consultants (SMC), the health and safety advisory to the marine and energy industry.

The agreement marks the second year that SMC has been contracted to carry out the Marine Inspection for Small Workboats (eMISW) for the 14-strong Seacat Services fleet.

The eMISW is an annual assessment of metrics including vessel integrity, stability, and life-saving facilities. A valid eMISW report with at least 6 months left to run is generally a prerequisite for vessels under 24m and 500 tonnes starting contracts in the offshore energy industry. Through these eMISW vessel inspections, SMC ensures that each vessel in the Seacat Services fleet continues to meet the needs of the growing offshore wind sector, upholding the highest standards of safety and technical performance.

In a sector where vessel availability is a key performance metric, minimising time spent out of action is essential. SMC has access to Accredited Vessel Inspectors (AVIs) across the UK and Europe, allowing Seacat Services to organise inspections at short notice to fit into periods of weather and vessel standby. This flexibility guarantees that Seacat Services’ customers continue to derive maximum value from the boats they charter.

The eMISW certificates validate Seacat Services’ wider commitment to safety, with the company being one of the few OESV firms to comply with both the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Safety Management (ISM) standards – a demanding set of certifications more commonly held by operators of vessels over 24m and 500 tonnes.

“The extension of this vessel inspection agreement is evidence of Seacat’s belief that SMC shares our commitment to safety and quality”, said Ian Baylis, Managing Director of Seacat Services. “Keeping a valid eMISW is essential for all of our vessels and operations, and SMCs flexibility in providing these inspections as and when each vessel becomes available has been invaluable in maintaining availability for our customers. We look forward to continuing our work with the SMC team in 2019.”

Daisy Mason, Vessel Inspection Coordinator at SMC, commented, “I am thrilled that Seacat Services have signed this agreement for a second year running. It’s a great achievement for all SMC inspectors that were involved. We look forward to building our relationship with Seacat Services and another year working alongside them”.